Article 

Barista $78K Richer After Refusing to Serve Woman

 

A San Diego barista is over $78,000 richer after standing up to a woman who wanted service without wearing a mask, ABC7 reports.

 

"It's so shocking to see something get so big that only happened within a few minutes," says the barista, Lenen Gutierrez, in a Facebook video.

 

Seems it all began when Gutierrez wouldn't serve Amber Lynn Gilles at Starbucks: "Meet lenen [sic] from Starbucks who refused to serve me cause I'm not wearing a mask," the 35-year-old San Diego woman wrote along with a now-deleted Facebook photo of him.

 

"Next time I will wait for cops and bring a medical exemption."

 

That led to Gutierrez pal Matt Cowan posting a GoFundMe page seeking "tips for Lenin standing up to a San Diego Karen."

 

Now Gilles, a self-proclaimed anti-vaxxer who doesn't believe in masks, tells NBC San Diego she's the victim: "I never threatened him and I've received death threats, thousands, it's very upsetting. It's very scary," she says.

 

Gutierrez tells a different story, saying that "she flipped me off and said I don't need [a mask] and she started cursing up a storm."

 

As for the donations, he says "thank you for all the love and support" and urges people "to be kind to one another and to love each other."

 

People notes that California law requires people to wear masks in public, including cafes and restaurants.

 

A summary of 172 worldwide studies has shown that masks and N95 respirators can reduce the chance of coronavirus infection from 17.4% to roughly 3.1%.

 

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1) Recount the viral incident involving Lenen Gutierrez and Amber Lynn Gilles. Cite their contradicting stories.

 

2) Describe Ms. Gilles' reaction to Mr. Gutierrez' refusal of service.

 

3) What was the conclusion of the GoFundMe put up by Matt Cowan?

 

4) Cite the face mask law in California. Do you find Mr. Gutierrez right?

 

5) Do you find the strict necessity to impose the face mask law in your country as well? Why or why not?

 

 

VOCABULARY:

flip off - to raise the middle finger (a rude gesture of anger or displeasure) at one